Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D1 antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25-100 micrograms kg-1 s.c. -20 min, and the D2 antagonist raclopride, 0.1-1.6 mg kg-1 s.c., -20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D1 or D2 receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.     

Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

Summary The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D₁ and D₂ antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D₁ antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25–100 g kg^–1 s.c. –20 min, and the D₂ antagonist raclopride, 0.1–1.6 mg kg^–1 s.c., –20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D₁ or D₂ receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.The expert technical assistance of Ms Elisabeth Wallin is gratefully acknowledged. The figures were skilfully prepared by Ms Madelene Kröning at the Department of Psychology. This study received support from the Bank of Sweden tercentenary Foundation, The Swedish MRC and Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation.     

Effect of acetylcholine,dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine on the incorporation of32P into phospholipids of the snail brain

Zusammenfassung Von den im Schneckenhirn (Helix pomatia) wahrscheinlich als Neurotransmitter wirkenden Substanzen führen Dopamin und Acetylcholin zu einem erhöhten Einbau von³²P in Phospholipide; Serotonin zeigt eher einen gegenteiligen Effekt und Noradrenalin bleibt ohne Einfluss. Phosphatidylinositol weist die höchste Einbaurate auf. Die Resultate unterstreichen die Bedeutung von Dopamin, Acetylcholin und Serotonin als Neurotransmitter im Schneckenhirn und deren Einfluss auf den Metabolismus von Membranphospholipiden.     

Suppression of natural killer cell activity in mouse spleen lymphocytes by several dopamine receptor antagonists

The effects of dopaminergic receptor inhibitors such as thiothixine (D₁/D₂), fluphenazine (D₁/D₂), trifluoperazine (D₁/D₂), pimozide (D₂), flupenthixol (D₁/D₂), (+/–)-SKF 83566 (D₁), and spiperone (D₂) on splenic natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activities were assessed in vitro using mouse spleen lymphocytes or enriched NK cells. Both the activities of the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity and the effector-target cell conjugation were suppressed by thiothixine, fluphenazine, and trifluoperazine at concentrations from 2.64 to 14.78 M. In addition, the augmentation of the cytolytic activity of NK cells induced by interferon- or interleukin-2 was antagonized by pretreatment with these neuroleptic compounds. However, neither the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity nor the effector-target cell conjugation were affected by treatment with other neuroleptic compounds such as pimozide, flupenthixol, (+/–)-SKF 83566, and spiperone. Thus, it appears that neuroleptic compounds such as thiothixine, fluphenazine, and trifluoperazine may act through the mechanisms other than a dopaminergic pathway to affect the NK cell-target cell interaction.     

Effects of isoproterenol and dopamine on the myocardial hexose monophosphate shunt

Summary Long-term exposure of rats to isoproterenol and dopamine resulted in an increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and a greater availability of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate in the myocardium. These results are interpreted to indicate an enhanced flow through the hexose monophosphate shunt.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Zi 199/1). The excellent technical assistance of Miss G. Steinkopff is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effects of isoproterenol and dopamine on the myocardial hexose monophosphate shunt.

Long-term exposure of rats to isoproterenol and dopamine resulted in an increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and a greater availability of 5-phosphoribosyl-l-pyrophosphate in the myocardium. These results are interpreted to indicate an enhanced flow through the hexose monophosphate shunt.     

Effects of dopamine and ACTH on steroid sensitive single neurones in the basal hypothalamus

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Mikroelektrophorese wurde die Wirkung von Dexamethasonphosphat, Dopamin und ACTH lokal an Einzelneuronen des Hypothalamus der Ratte geprüft. Dexamethason-phosphat (ein synthetisches Corticosteroid) hemmte mehrheitlich die Aktivität der steroidempfindlichen Zellen im Hypothalamus, einige wenige dieser Zellen wurden aktiviert. Dopamin hemmte die Aktivität dieser steroidempfindlichen Neuronen sehr stark. ACTH dagegen aktivierte diese Zellen. Diese Resultate werden in Zusammenhang mit einem negativen und einem positiven «Feedback»-Mechanismus, der die ACTH-Bildung steuert, diskutiert.     

Lack of gravity effect on the speed of amoeboid locomotion inNaegleria gruberi

Summary The speed of amoeboid locomotion was the same for amoebae moving on the top surface and bottom surface of a horizontal perfusion chamber i.e. cell-substrate adhesive forces must be considerably greater than the gravitational force acting on the locomoting amoeba.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Les Cooper for technical assistance, and the Science Research Council for support.     

Lack of substrate specificity on the speed of amoeboid locomotion inNaegleria gruberi

Summary Comparison of locomotory rates ofNaegleria on glass, agar, plastic and fluorocarbon oil under a range of defined electrolyte concentrations showed the speed of amoeboid movement to be independent of the substrate's nature.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Les Cooper for technical assistance, the Science Research Council for support and the 3M Company for the gift of FC75 oil.     

Inhibition of human leucocytes locomotion by anti-inflammatory drugs

Summary In this study we have demonstrated that acidic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in low concentrations inhibited human PMN locomotion in vitro. A speculative mechanism of action is proposed.This work was supported by a grant from C.N.R.     

Effects of dobutamine on cyclic AMP accumulation induced by the stimulation of dopamine receptors in rabbit retina in vitro

Summary Intact rabbit retinae were used for testing in vitro the potential activation of dopamine receptors by a new cardioactive sympathetic amine dobutamine. It was found that despite the structure relationship of dobutamine with other dopamine-analogs, the pharmacological action of this compound is not comparable to that of apomorphine, N-methyl-dopamine and/or ADTN.Acknowledgments. Supported by SNSF grant No. 3.327.078. The authors express their gratitude to Miss G. Allenbach for her excellent technical assistance and to Mr F. Pillonel for drawing the graphs.     

Effects of dobutamine on cyclic AMP accumulation induced by the stimulation of dopamine receptors in rabbit retina in vitro

Intact rabbit retinae were used for testing in vitro the potential activation of dopamine receptors by a new cardioactive sympathetic amine dobutamine. It was found that despite the structure relationship of dobutamine with other dopamine-analog, the pharmacological action of this compound is not comparable to that of apomorphine, N-methyl-dopamine and/or ADTN.     

The biology of cell locomotion within three-dimensional extracellular matrix

Cell migration in three-dimensional (3-D) extracellular matrix (ECM) is not a uniform event but rather comprises a modular spectrum of interdependent biophysical and biochemical cell functions. Haptokinetic cell migration across two-dimensional (2-D) surfaces consists of at least three processes: (i) the protrusion of the leading edge for adhesive cell-substratum interactions is followed by (ii) contraction of the cell body and (iii) detachment of the trailing edge. In cells of flattened morphology migrating slowly across 2-D substrate, contact-dependent clustering of adhesion receptors including integrins results in focal contact and stress fiber formation. While haptokinetic migration is predominantly a function of adhesion and deadhesion events lacking spatial barriers towards the advancing cell body, the biophysics of the tissues require a set of cellular strategies to overcome matrix resistance. Matrix barriers force the cells to adapt their morphology and change shape and/or enzymatically degrade ECM components, either by contact-dependent proteolysis or by protease secretion. In 3-D ECM, in contrast to 2-D substrate, the cell shape is mostly bipolar and the cytoskeletal organization is less stringent, frequently lacking discrete focal contacts and stress fibers. Morphologically large spindle-shaped cells (i.e., fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and many tumor cells) of high integrin expression and strong cytoskeletal contractility utilize integrin-dependent migration strategies that are coupled to the capacity to reorganize ECM. In contrast, a more dynamic ameboid migration type employed by smaller cells expressing low levels of integrins (i.e., T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, some tumor cells) is characterized by largely integrin-independent interaction strategies and flexible morphological adaptation to preformed fiber strands, without structurally changing matrix architecture. In tumor invasion and angiogenesis, migration mechanisms further comprise the migration of entire cell clusters or strands maintaining stringent cell-cell adhesion and communication while migrating. Lastly, cellular interactions, enzyme and cytokine secretion, and tissue remodeling provided by reactive stroma cells (i.e. fibroblasts and macrophages) contribute to cell migration. In conclusion, depending on the cellular composition and tissue context of migration, diverse cellular and molecular migration strategies can be developed by different cell types.